Dispensing device



NOV; 14, 1939. w F', GRNT 2,180,004

DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Oct. 8, 1954 www lgL/ENTOR.

` Patented Nov. 14,1939 Y 2,180,004

William Francis Grant, Cleveland Heights, Ohio,

assignor, by direct and mesneasslgnments, to Dispenser Products Inc., New York, N. I., a corporation o! New York Application October 8, 1934, Serial'No. 747,304 7 Claims. (Cl. 15-134) This invention relatesto dispensing apparatus for dispensing liquids or iiuid mixtures.

'I'he apparatus to which it relates is particularly adapted 4to the dispensing of liquids which not only must be applied to objects but must bel spread or rubbed thereon, such as cleaning fluids,

coloring and polishing compounds, and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved dispensing device which 'may be conveniently made a part of, orattached to, a liquid holding container. y

Another'object is to provide an improved dispensing device through which uid may be automatically supplied as it is used. y.Another object is to provide an improveddispensing device which will prevent loss of liquid within a container, as by evaporation and the like.

Another object is to provide an improved dis- Ad pensing device which may easily and economically be manufactured.

Another object'is to provide an improved dispensing device which will be extremely compact.

Another object is to provide an improved dispensing device which will be neat and attractive `in appearance. v

' Other objects will hereinafter appear.` e 'I'he invention will be better understood from the description of several practical embodiments 0 thereof,i11ustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which;

Figure 1 is a'perspective view of the component parts entering into one embodiment of the invention arranged in spaced relation;

Figure 2 is a central sectional view of the parts of Figure 1 in assembled relation;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4 is a sectionaly view of a third embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view of still another embodiment of the invention.

In Figures 1 and 2 a device is shown whic 5 consists of a generally` cup-shaped cap having a disc-like top vportion or head I and a depending cylindrical flange 2, provided or formed with threads by which it may be secured to the threaded neck of a bottle 3 or similar container.

Secured to the outer or upper side or disc I is a small cupped member or baille having a disc-like portion or head 4,. which may be secured to part Iof the cap as by soldering,.riveting or any other desired manner, and a peripheral upwardly ex,-

tending iiange 5. An aperture 8 is formed through the disc-like portions of both the cap, and baille.

A circular piece 'I of absorbent material, such as fabric, felt, vcotton or the like, is provided loi? a size capable of being received within the mar. 5 ginal flange 5. y

Arranged to overlie the above mentioned baille is a second or upper baille or cup-shaped member having a plane upper surface or head 8 'and a depending marginal flange 8. The head 8 is p ro- 10 vided Withfapertures III. The upper baille is covered with a disc II of velours or other suitable napped fabric or the like arranged with the nap on its exposed side. f

The parts above described are assembled as 15 follows:r

The disc 4 is first secured to .disc I, then the fabric II is placed over the upper baille and both of these placed over the disc I and the assembled parts I to 5.

The edges of disc II are brought .inwardly and upwardly within flange 9 as the parts are placed together, to clamp these edges between flanges 5 and, as illustrated in Figure 2, this operation being substantiallyl the same, and conveniently 25 performed by apparatus designed for, the making i, of fabric covered buttons. "4.

Aiter the parts have been so` assembled, a washer-like disc I2 of compressible or iiexible material and provided with an aperture in align- 30 ment with aperture 6 is placed within the cap and the device -is threaded lonto the Athreaded neck of the bottle 3 which contains the liquid which is to be dispensed. y

'I'he size and arrangement of apertures 6 and 35 I0 and the material of discs 'I and II are chosen with regard to the fluidity and viscosity of the liquid which is to bedispensed, so as to retard the iiow of the same and prevent an excessive quantity from reaching the nap of fabric II. For 40 a very fluid mixture, such as benzine or other -cleaning fluid, a relatively small aperture 6 `is usedv and a small number of small apertures I 0.

The disc 1 would be formed of fairly compact felt and the 'disc I I o! relatively tightly woven 45 fabric, which further maybe coated on its inner surface with rubber or other similar material to decrease the size ofthe pores therethrough.

It will be understood that a rubber coating, such as is formed on the back of the fabric, 50 is not a continuous impervious layer' of rub. ber, but that the rubber` coats the underside foi.' the various strands of the fabric and to some extent spans the interstices between the strands. v

In some instances, some of these interstices 55 f and 52.

may be completely covered and closed off, while others will remain open, and in other instances a small fin or web of rubber projects inwardly around the edges of the interstice, leaving a restricted opening only therethrough.

The relation of the area of the interstices left open in any unit area of the fabric to the total area of this unit may be determined by the choice of fabric, the material of the coating, and the quantity or thickness of the coating applied.

With a thicker, more viscous fluid, larger apertures 6 and I0 necessarily would be provided, in some instances the apertures being merged so that there would be only one large aperture thro h discs I and 4 and one through disc 8. The 'sc 'I would be of more loosely compacted material, or in extreme instances omittted altogether, and the fabric II would likewise be of more loosely woven texture.

In Figure 3 is shown a dispenser very similar to that of Figures 1 and 2, excepting that the lower baffle has been omitted and its place taken by a flange 25 formed upon the central portion 2| of the cap member itself. This cap is provided with a threaded marginal flange 22 and has formed in it a central aperture 26, corresponding to flange 2 and aperture Ii above described.

The disc I has been entirely omitted and the cup-shaped baffle consisting of disc 28 and flange 29 is similar to that above described, excepting that it has only a single large central opening 30. The disc of napped fabric II is unchanged, as is the Washer I2.

A cap 3I is frictionally or threadedly engaged with the exterior of flange 22, and serves to enclose the dispenser when not in use. Obviously a similar cap could be provided for the device show'n in Figures 1 and 2.

A disc-like washer 32 is shown as interposed between the neck of bottle 3 and washer I2. 'I'his disc is not intended to be included in the apparatus when in use, but is to serve as a seal during shipment, storage, or the like and to be removed before use is made of the apparatus. A similar disc would be provided with the parts of Figures 1 and 2 or of Figures 4 and 5 if desired.

Figure 4 shows a further embodiment of the invention which comprises a hollow plug consisting of a flat or plane head 4I and an upwardly extending threaded flange 42 which is adapted to be threaded onto the neck of a container 43. The head has apertures 46. Secured upon its upper' end is a cup-like baille member having an upper plane head 48 and a marginal flange 49, the head having a central aperture 50. Between flanges 42 and 48 are clamped the edges of the disc II of napped textile fabric.

Figure 5 shows a still further modiflcation, in which an annular flange 52 is formed integrally with a container 53. A cup-shaped baille member, consisting of an upper head 58 and marginal flange 59, and having apertures 6D therethrough, clamps the fabric disc II between the flanges 59 A frictionally retained cover 6I ts over the dispensing portion of the device and engages the sides of the container 53.

The operation of the device is very simple and is as follows: The user merely has to remove the cover 3l or 6I and invert the container. Then, using the container as a handle, and the fabric disc II as a brush, he .merely moves the apparatus back and forth over and in engagement with the surface to which he desires to apply the liquid. As liquid is brushed oil of the fabric I I, it is replaced by more seeping through the apertures and fabric. As long as the surface of the woven backing of the disc II is completely moistened, a substantially air-tight seal exists, preventing air from entering the container so that a slight vacuum is created therein by the removal of liquid therefrom, which overcomes any gravitational head on the liquid which would otherwise be present and prevents the liquid from running out through the fabric.

If too great a vacuum exists, it may be relieved by slightly unscrewing the cap or plug. However, the vacuum will be automatically relieved as liquid is removed from fabric II by use, so as to permit some of the pores thereof to become unobstructed.

While I have described the several illustrated embodiments of my invention in some particularity, obviously many others will readily occur to those skilled in this art, and I do not, therefore, limit myself to the precise details shown and described herein, but claim as my invention all embodiments, variations and modifications thereof coming Within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a dispensing device, a perforated cupshaped rigid holder adapted to be secured to and overlie the opening of a container, a flange projecting in the direction opposite to the cupshaped portion of the holder from the base of the holder, said flange being formed integrally with said cup-shaped holder, a covering of fabric secured to said projecting flange and overlying and spaced from the perforated part of the holder, and securing means clamping the edge of said covering of fabric to said flange.

2. In a dispensing device, a perforated cupshaped rigid holder adapted to be secured to and overlie the opening of a container, a flange projecting in the direction opposite to the cupshaped portion of the holder from the base of the holder surrounding the perforated part thereof and inwardly offset from the periphery of said holder, a covering of fabric secured to said projecting flange and overlying and spaced from the perforated part of the holder, and securing means clamping the edge of said covering of fabric to said flange. y

3. In a dispensing device, a perforated cupshaped rigid holder adapted to be secured to and overlie the opening of a container, a flange projecting in the direction opposite to the cupshaped portion of the holder from the base of the holder surrounding the perforated part thereof, a covering of fabric secured to said projecting flange and overlying and spaced from the perforated part of the holder, and securing means clamping the edge of said covering of fabric to said flange.

4. In a dispensing device, a perforated cupshaped rigid holder adapted to be secured to and overlie the opening of a container, a flange projecting in the direction opposite to the cupshaped portion of the holder from the base of the holder surrounding the perforated part thereof and slightly inwardly offset from the periphery of said holder, a covering of fabric secured t0 said projecting flange and overlying and spaced from the perforated part of the holder, and securing means clamping the edge of said covering of fabric to said flange, said securing means comprising a perforated baille and a flange engaging said flrst mentioned flange whereby the fabric projects beyond any rigid part of the holder.

5. In a dispensing device, a perforated cupshaped rigid holder adapted to be secured to and overlie the opening of a container, a flange pro- .iecting in the direction opposite to the cupshaped portion of the holder from the base of the holder surrounding the perforated part thereof, a covering of fabric secured to said projecting flange and overlying and spaced from the perforated part of the holder, and securing means clamping the edge of said covering of fabric to said flange, said securing means comprising a perforated baille anda flange engaging said rst mentioned flange whereby the fabric projects beyond any rigid part of the holder.

8. In a dispensing device, a perforated cupshaped rigid holder adapted to be secured to and overlie the opening of a container, a flange pro- Jecting in the direction opposite to the cupshaped portion of the holder from the base of the holder surrounding the perforated part thereof and slightly inwardly offset from the periphery of said holder, a covering of fabric secured to said projecting ange and overlying and spaced from the perforated part of the holder, and securing means clamping the edge of said covering of fabric to said ange, said seeming means comprising a perforated baille and a flange engaging said rst mentioned ange whereby the fabric projects beyond any rigid part of the holder, the fabric having a foraminous rubber coated back to restrict the passage of liquid therethrough.

'1. In a dispensing device, a perforated cup shaped rigid holder adapted to be secured to and overlie the opening of a container; a flange projecting in the direction opposite to the cupshaped portion of the holder from the base of the holder surrounding the perforated part thereof, a covering of fabric secured to said projecting flange and overlying and spaced from the perforated part of the holder, and securing means clamping the edge of said covering of fabric to said flange, said securing means comprising a perforated baille and a ange engaging said :nx-st mentioned ange whereby the fabric projects beyond any rigid part of the holder, the fabric hav.

ing a foraminous rubber `coated back to restrict the passage of liquid therethrough.

W. F. GRANT. 

